TSR TSR3 Blames Widespread Pushback On WotC

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events).

TSR3 is run by Justin LaNasa, Stephen Dinehart, and Ernie Gygax. The controversy has been raging for over a week, since TSR3 announced itself with a press release.

TSR - Companies & Freelancers Distance Themselves From The New TSR

The new TSR (which I refer to as TSR3 to avoid confusion) has doubled down on its stance--which has been widely condemned online--via an ongoing series of tweets and replies from its TSR Games, Giantlands, and Dungeon Hobby Museum social media accounts (possibly operated by Justin LaNasa) in an...

www.enworld.org

Stephen Dinehart and Ernie Gygax have since deactivated their Twitter accounts; Justin LaNasa doesn't appear to have one, but it is believed he is the person operating TSR3's Twitter account. A couple of days ago, Ernie Gygax posted about recent events on Facebook (note that he edited the post, but the original can be seen here).

I wish to state in the strongest terms that I never meant to hurt anyone of any race, creed or color. My video From the Bunker caused some to feel that they would not be welcome or would be looked down upon. That was never the intent, I was reacting to focus of modern role play into a more background and Role Play rather than the wargame that so made so many lives happy over 40 years ago.

As a gamer it meant that most of us were not worthy of any attention from others of our own age. We were Nerds. We were brainy-acks and others would snicker. Older classmen would ask to "borrow" something of ours to then pass back and forth a game of keep away. I used to receive some special attention from about 4 Juniors in my Freshman year. I played the Violin and often I began to wish that I had Super Powers, perhaps become a Giant.. I was far to shy and then embarrassed as attractive ladies would just lower the eyes while the jocks or other socially vibrant fellows had some fun at another geeky nerds expense. Thank goodness I grew 4 inches my junior year.

The only real comfort zone we all could share was a table in the lunch room. At least the fledgling TSR found fertile minds in those who had only those like us - gamers. Rather than have to risk embarrassing myself, since Phy Ed was going to force us to dance with those wonderful and yet scary girls. Well to get my Diploma I had to slave for a month to Mr. Gerber the head of the Phy Ed department. Fortunately I knew all about janitorial work as before D&D and TSR dad only made $5,000 as a Cobbler (five children) and we had food stamps and even free school lunches. Yes you had to go to the councilors office every week to collect your free lunch passes. Obviously you could feel all the eyes on you and the talk about....

Everyone has been welcome at my gaming table and multitudes of new friends have been created by the time spent playing the games we Love. Look at pictures of gaming on my site or anywhere I run games. Everyone is welcome, just like a Boot Hill game leave your guns at the bar until you leave town. If you come to the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum Jeff R. Leason will show you courtesy and a smile and you will see that gaming with elder gamers is a safe and entertaining environment.

TSR - Ernie Gygax on New TSR, WotC Beefs, Trademarks, Licensees, 5E, & More

A YouTube channel, 'Live From the Bunker', interviewed Ernie Gygax about the new TSR. I've watched and decided to try to transcribe the most relevant parts of it, but the full hour-long video is below if you want to see the whole interview and full context. Ernie Gygax is one of D&D...

www.enworld.org

 

[imagineGod]

As horrible as it sounds it would appear that any talent, ability or skill Ernie has would not be among the reasons he was brought into that endeavor. He was doomed to be a puppet and a meat shield from the beginning.

While "meat shield" is common parlance in fantasy games, it is not a good phrase when speaking about real people. It has several negative connotations.

 

[Eubani]

While "meat shield" is common parlance in fantasy games, it is not a good phrase when speaking about real people. It has several negative connotations.

They had him out in the open to take all the hits, if that is not the definition of a meat shield, I don't know what is.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

Some of Ernie's recalcitrance to do the right thing in his steep fall is also related to the fact that he is getting attention that he never got before. There is some jealousy for what Luke has accomplished, etc. The karma train is being dragged along by him and he doesn't see it. His awful reckoning will be a surprise to him even though it was in a decaying orbit he created about him.

 

[MGibster]

Business associates are a covered entity for the Privacy Rule.

You are 100% correct regarding the seriousness of the breach in privacy here but you're a little confused over applicable laws here. We have a byzantine series of laws here regarding accommodations, protected information, and other issues revolving around privacy and medical information so I can hardly blame anyone for being confused. HIPAA isn't applicable here as the privacy rule applies to health care plans and providers but it doesn't apply to employers. The business associates you're thinking of in connection with the privacy rule are those who work with health care providers in billing, legal, as contractors, etc., etc. even if they don't work directly with patient care.

However, failure to maintain confidentiality of an employee's medical information is a violation of the American with Disabilities Act (even if the information disclosed has nothing to do with a disability). And again, you are absolutely correct regarding the seriousness of this breach of confidentiality. In fact, any information we might have of an employee's medical status is not part of their personnel file and is kept secure in another location. If I were to deliberately disclose the protected health information of an employee I would likely find myself out of a job the next day. If someone in my marketing department disclosed the health status of an employee on social media without their express permission, I would recommend immediate termination. And I do not typically go straight to recommending termination.

You can disclose PHI for a few legitimate reasons.

1. You can disclose PHI to managers/supervisors/others when necessary to provide reasonable accommodations to the employee. Best practice is to provide the bare minimum information necessary to make the accommodations.
2. You can disclose PHI to authorized state/federal authorities conducting a workplace investigation.
3. You can disclose PHI to authorized individuals in the case of workman's compensation claims or other insurance.
4. You can disclose PHI to first responders or safety personnel if the employee needs emergency treatment.

I know that's all really boring stuff and not something we'd typically talk about here. But I did want people to understand exactly what they did wrong by disclosing someone's PHI like that.

Edit: And I see that my post is completely pointless as you guys already sorted it out.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

It does seem that his name was the perceived selling-point.

If Ernie steps away they have nothing but a trademark. Yet he has referred to LaNassa as the "General".

 

[Rob Kuntz]

They had him out in the open to take all the hits, if that is not the definition of a meat shield, I don't know what is.

Without the adjective it just becomes "shield". No real euphemistic difference.

 

[Eubani]

If Ernie steps away they have nothing but a trademark. Yet he has referred to LaNassa as the "General".

The sad part is that none of this needed to happen, hard work and integrity stood a good chance of getting Ernie some if not all of what he was aiming at getting out of the ttrpg industry.

 

[Umbran]

You are 100% correct regarding the seriousness of the breach in privacy here but you're a little confused over applicable laws here.

I already admitted that. You now have several paragraphs teaching me the thing I'd already been corrected on.

 

[MGibster]

I already admitted that. You now have several paragraphs teaching me the thing I'd already been corrected on.

I know. And I even edited by post to include: Edit: And I see that my post is completely pointless as you guys already sorted it out.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

The sad part is that none of this needed to happen, hard work and integrity stood a good chance of getting Ernie some if not all of what he was aiming at getting out of the ttrpg industry.

Ernie, at least in recent years, does not believe in hard work. Luke has offered him all sorts of opportunities to make money over the years and Ernie has declined. This is his "dream" opportunity to do a minimal amount of DMing and front man stuff and get his dream money from the "General" in return. Weakness on several levels has fostered the circumstance.

Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable."

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